In February, Hendersonville Little Theatre will present Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Theresa Cox, a former student of Treadway's. It seems natural, therefore, that many students and community members will be appearing on both stages, not only to widen their experiences and strengthen their skills, but also for the sheer joy of theater.

In the past few years, more and more actors, directors, set designers, stage managers and other thespians are finding themselves working at both venues, volunteering their time — despite the demands of busy family, work and school schedules — for the sake of theater.

The two directors see the advantages of the connections between local community theater and educational theater.

"We are a small community college with limited resources, so we can only do two shows a year, none in the summer," says Treadway, director of the drama department at BRCC. "Having such great opportunities gives my students more opportunities to hone their skills."

Cox agrees. "Working with both BRCC and HLT together has given me experiences I wouldn't ordinarily have had. BRCC gives me the training and practice, while HLT gives me a place to put my education to the test."

Recent BRCC graduate Beth Norris is another actor who is happy to take advantage of opportunities afforded at both theaters. Norris first appeared as a student in the staged reading of "A Carolina Story," then had a singing role in HLT's "Music Man," came back to BRCC to first work as part of the crew on BRCC's production of "August: Osage County," reprised her role as Effie in a full production of the premiere of "A Carolina Story" and will soon appear as Ursula in BRCC's "Much Ado About Nothing."

In February, she will play the nurse in HLT's "Romeo and Juliet."

Also appreciating the value of the opportunities is Bobby Simcox, a BRCC Early College High School student who will appear in both plays as well.

"Working in both places has given me the opportunity to expand my horizon and enhance my resume with the variety of roles," he says.

Kai Elijah Hamilton, artistic director at HLT and a BRCC graduate, is well aware of the benefits of encouraging interaction between theaters. As a student at BRCC, Hamilton was active as an actor and director, not only at BRCC but also at HLT, working on many productions in both venues.

"I feel that the bridge between community theater and education is important," Hamilton says. "Therefore, the 2013 season allows many opportunities for students and the general public to have an outlet to discover themselves in theater. Theater should be a place of escape, a place to allow one's creativity to live free, a world that tells a story."

Other actors and directors who began working with HLT and then sought out experiences at Blue Ridge feel the same way. Robert Ryan Reece, who plays Leonato in BRCC's current production and also appeared in last year's "August: Osage County," has a long history at Hendersonville Little Theatre, having acted in and directed numerous productions as well as working back stage.

"For me, it's just the variety of experience," Reece says. "Often community theaters have to be concerned with doing a play that will appeal to a larger audience, while a college drama department is concerned with offering a broad selection of plays to give their students exposure to different types and styles of plays."

This attitude is typical of many HLT actors and other community members who take part in BRCC productions, according to Treadway, and one reason she encourages the collaboration between the two theaters.

"My students get a chance to work with people whose experience and maturity reminds us of what theater is all about because these actors are volunteering, not for credits and not for something to put on their resumes, but because they love to do it," she says.

One community actor whose love for theater seems insatiable is Ed Mathis, whose first appearance in a full-length play was last year's "A Carolina Story" at BRCC, a musical for which he composed and performed two songs. After that production, Mathis appeared in two Chekhov one-act plays at HLT that were directed by Robert Reece, with whom he will be appearing in "Much Ado."

Not only students and volunteers, but also professional actors, have positive words for experiences gleaned at both theaters. One of these actors is Z. Joseph Guice, a native of Hendersonville who is now living and working in New York City.

"I think the more places you can work, the better off you are as an artist," Guice says.

"We are fortunate to have these two great venues relatively close to each other, along with Flat Rock Playhouse. I encourage anyone with an interest in acting and a desire for growth in their craft to audition and work at as many different venues as possible. Working at all three definitely enriched me."

Enrichment is probably the best word to describe the experiences of the many people who have worked for both Hendersonville Little Theatre and Blue Ridge Community College's drama department. So many express how working in theater has not only heightened their abilities but made their lives richer.

"When you work on a show, your cast and crew really develop a camaraderie," Norris says. "I love working with both of these theaters because, although they are different venues, working at either place feels like coming home to family."

Katie Winkler, a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, teaches composition, literature and creative writing at Blue Ridge Community College and is active with the drama department there as an actor, director and writer.

<p>Blue Ridge Community College's drama department will present Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing," directed by drama instructor Jennifer Treadway, Nov. 28-Dec. 2. </p><p>In February, Hendersonville Little Theatre will present Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Theresa Cox, a former student of Treadway's. It seems natural, therefore, that many students and community members will be appearing on both stages, not only to widen their experiences and strengthen their skills, but also for the sheer joy of theater.</p><p>In the past few years, more and more actors, directors, set designers, stage managers and other thespians are finding themselves working at both venues, volunteering their time — despite the demands of busy family, work and school schedules — for the sake of theater. </p><p>The two directors see the advantages of the connections between local community theater and educational theater. </p><p>"We are a small community college with limited resources, so we can only do two shows a year, none in the summer," says Treadway, director of the drama department at BRCC. "Having such great opportunities gives my students more opportunities to hone their skills."</p><p>Cox agrees. "Working with both BRCC and HLT together has given me experiences I wouldn't ordinarily have had. BRCC gives me the training and practice, while HLT gives me a place to put my education to the test."</p><p>Recent BRCC graduate Beth Norris is another actor who is happy to take advantage of opportunities afforded at both theaters. Norris first appeared as a student in the staged reading of "A Carolina Story," then had a singing role in HLT's "Music Man," came back to BRCC to first work as part of the crew on BRCC's production of "August: Osage County," reprised her role as Effie in a full production of the premiere of "A Carolina Story" and will soon appear as Ursula in BRCC's "Much Ado About Nothing." </p><p>In February, she will play the nurse in HLT's "Romeo and Juliet."</p><p>Also appreciating the value of the opportunities is Bobby Simcox, a BRCC Early College High School student who will appear in both plays as well. </p><p>"Working in both places has given me the opportunity to expand my horizon and enhance my resume with the variety of roles," he says.</p><p>Kai Elijah Hamilton, artistic director at HLT and a BRCC graduate, is well aware of the benefits of encouraging interaction between theaters. As a student at BRCC, Hamilton was active as an actor and director, not only at BRCC but also at HLT, working on many productions in both venues.</p><p>"I feel that the bridge between community theater and education is important," Hamilton says. "Therefore, the 2013 season allows many opportunities for students and the general public to have an outlet to discover themselves in theater. Theater should be a place of escape, a place to allow one's creativity to live free, a world that tells a story."</p><p>Other actors and directors who began working with HLT and then sought out experiences at Blue Ridge feel the same way. Robert Ryan Reece, who plays Leonato in BRCC's current production and also appeared in last year's "August: Osage County," has a long history at Hendersonville Little Theatre, having acted in and directed numerous productions as well as working back stage.</p><p>"For me, it's just the variety of experience," Reece says. "Often community theaters have to be concerned with doing a play that will appeal to a larger audience, while a college drama department is concerned with offering a broad selection of plays to give their students exposure to different types and styles of plays."</p><p>This attitude is typical of many HLT actors and other community members who take part in BRCC productions, according to Treadway, and one reason she encourages the collaboration between the two theaters. </p><p>"My students get a chance to work with people whose experience and maturity reminds us of what theater is all about because these actors are volunteering, not for credits and not for something to put on their resumes, but because they love to do it," she says.</p><p>One community actor whose love for theater seems insatiable is Ed Mathis, whose first appearance in a full-length play was last year's "A Carolina Story" at BRCC, a musical for which he composed and performed two songs. After that production, Mathis appeared in two Chekhov one-act plays at HLT that were directed by Robert Reece, with whom he will be appearing in "Much Ado."</p><p>Not only students and volunteers, but also professional actors, have positive words for experiences gleaned at both theaters. One of these actors is Z. Joseph Guice, a native of Hendersonville who is now living and working in New York City. </p><p>"I think the more places you can work, the better off you are as an artist," Guice says. </p><p>"We are fortunate to have these two great venues relatively close to each other, along with Flat Rock Playhouse. I encourage anyone with an interest in acting and a desire for growth in their craft to audition and work at as many different venues as possible. Working at all three definitely enriched me."</p><p>Enrichment is probably the best word to describe the experiences of the many people who have worked for both Hendersonville Little Theatre and Blue Ridge Community College's drama department. So many express how working in theater has not only heightened their abilities but made their lives richer.</p><p>"When you work on a show, your cast and crew really develop a camaraderie," Norris says. "I love working with both of these theaters because, although they are different venues, working at either place feels like coming home to family."</p><p>Katie Winkler, a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, teaches composition, literature and creative writing at Blue Ridge Community College and is active with the drama department there as an actor, director and writer.</p>